Crittenden, Thomas Leonidas

Crittenden, Thomas Leonidas (lē-ŏn`ədəs), 1819–93, Union general in the Civil War, b. Russellville, Ky.; son of John J. Crittenden and brother of George B. Crittenden. He served in the Mexican War and was (1849–53) U.S. consul at Liverpool. A major general in the Kentucky militia when the Civil War began, Crittenden became a Union brigadier general (Sept., 1861) and was promoted to major general (July, 1862) for his service at Shiloh. He commanded under Rosecrans at Murfreesboro and in the Chattanooga campaign. After being exonerated for the rout of his corps at Chickamauga, he served for a time in the Army of the Potomac. Crittenden resigned his commission in Dec., 1864, but reentered the army in 1867 and served until 1881.